This table shows the historical context of the surrounding Era of Ezra and there correlation to Ezra and Nehemiah.
King of Persia
Events in the wider region
Correlation with Ezra-Nehemiah
Cyrus (550-530)
Fall of Babylon, 539
Edict of Cyrus: directive to the Jews to rebuild the Temple; first return of exiles to Jerusalem, 538; altar restored and foundations of Temple laid.
Cambyses (530-522)
Conquest of Egypt, 525
Work on the Temple halted due to the plots of the Samaritans.
Darius I (522-486)
Secures the throne in 520/519 after fighting off various rivals
Edict of Cyrus rediscovered: Temple rebuilt, sixth year of Darius (515)
Xerxes (486-465)
Failed attempt to conquer Greece, beginning of struggle with Greeks for control of the eastern Mediterranean
Artaxerxes I (465-424)
Successful suppression of Greek-supported revolt in Egypt, 460-456; revolt of Megabyzus, governor of the territory which included Judah, 449
Most widely accepted period for arrival of Ezra in the "seventh year of Artaxerxes"; second return of the exiles to Jerusalem (458 if the king is Artaxerxes I, or 428 if the year is read as his thirty-seventh instead of his seventh); mission of Nehemiah, 445-433
Darius II (423-404)
Artaxerxes II (404-358)
Egypt regains independence, 401
Alternative period for arrival of Ezra and second return of exiles to Jerusalem (398 if the king is Artaxerxes II)
Historical Background
This table shows the historical context of the surrounding Era of Ezra and there correlation to Ezra and Nehemiah.